Affiliates

Carolina Hurricanes

The Checkers have been affiliated with the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes since moving to the American Hockey League for the 2010-11 season. At that time, the Checkers, along with Grand Rapids, Rockford and Texas, were one of just four AHL teams located less than 200 miles away and in the same state as their NHL affiliate.

As the Hurricanes' top affiliate, the Checkers receive many of the team's top prospects and draft picks so that they may further their development. In the first seven years of the affiliation, 50 different players were involved in a total of 195 transactions between the two clubs, resulting in 1,244 NHL games played by Checkers players.

Florida Everblades

The ECHL's Florida Everblades, located in Estero, FL, are the Checkers' primary source of reinforcements when the need arises due to injuries or recalls made by the NHL's Hurricanes. In addition, many Hurricanes prospects begin their careers with the Everblades before moving on to the AHL and/or NHL. In 2011-12, a handful of players who also played for Charlotte during the season, including John Muse and Justin Shugg, played a key role in the Everblades' first-ever ECHL championship.